39th Annual IPAY International Showcase comes to Overture
Overture Center for the Arts will partner with International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) to host the 39th annual IPAY Showcase. Taking place from January 18-21, 2017, Showcase will present theater, dance, puppetry and music created for young audiences by companies from seven countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom (England, Scotland and Northern Ireland), Brazil and Australia.
“Supporting the engagement of young people in the arts is a core value of Overture Center. We are honored to be hosting the upcoming IPAY Showcase in Madison and to have the opportunity for local children and families to attend these Showcase performances and experience these exceptional artistic companies at no charge,” said Ted DeDee, Overture’s President and CEO.
Through a highly competitive and rigorous jury process, 17 full-length productions and nine excerpt spotlights have been selected to participate in Showcase. Highlights will include giant jellyfish puppets from the Black Hole Theatre of Australia, a Brazilian company’s re-telling of the story of Sinbad using bamboo mobile structures that turn into ships, giants, birds etc., and a new show from Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company with one woman playing 14 characters exploring immigration from different ethnic perspectives through a community garden neighborhood project in Cleveland.
Many of the shows will be attended by school groups as well as conference attendees. Select performances are free and available to the public with a reservation at overture.org/IPAY:
• Anatomy of the Piano (for beginners) – WED, JAN 18, 4 PM | Capitol Theater
• WiLd! – WED, JAN 18, 7:45 PM | Capitol Theater
• Darius & Twig – WED, JAN 18, 9 PM | Overture Hall
• TerZettto – THU, JAN 19, 8 PM | Capitol Theater
• They Called Her Vivaldi – FRI, JAN 20, 8 PM | Capitol Theater
• Jazzy Ash & the Leaping Lizard – SAT, JAN 21, 9:30 AM | Capitol Theater
IPAY offers another opportunity for local artists to participate – SPARK! Artist Dialogue 2017
• Unpacking CAN’T: Moving from Impossible to Potential | TUE, JAN 17, 12:30-4:30 PM | Promenade Terrace
SPARK! is IPAY’s special pre-conference intended to bring local artists and organizations together with IPAY members to bring international local. The pre-conference includes a four-hour session plus one full-day access pass to attend IPAY Showcase during the conference, January 18-21, 2017.
This year’s SPARK! will focus on Unpacking CAN’T: Moving from the Impossible to Potential. Beginning with a Viewpoints session, participants will explore barriers of creating work for young audiences though IPAY’s signature Kitchen Table platform. After a series of round robin breakouts, participants will leave with a list of actions for moving the impossible to the potential.
Cost is $25, which includes session and one full-day conference registration
IPAY, a membership organization and a leader in the field of international performing arts for youth, envisions a world in which artistic excellence and innovation in performing arts for young audiences are nurtured, supported and expanded. Throughout this four-day event, this vision is realized as professionals from all over the world come together to share resources and experience the work of exceptional artistic companies.
IPAY Executive Director Jeremy “Boomer” Stacey shares the enthusiasm for bringing Showcase to Madison, “IPAY is extremely excited to be partnering with Overture Center for the Arts – a long-standing IPAY member and an organization committed to quality programming for young audiences. We look forward to welcoming our IPAY community to this stunning architectural landmark and to showcasing another stellar line-up of international artists”.
Growing in size each year, Showcase 2017 is expected to attract approximately 450 delegates. The group, which will include artists, presenters and producers from around the world, will gather together to enjoy the unique charm of Madison, while developing new collaborations and building tours to reach children throughout North America and beyond.
For more information on IPAY, please visit www.ipayweb.org
